Dyer's Hammers deal 'definitely off'

West Ham 2

Roma 1

Half-time: 0-1

Att: 26,425

The news for West Ham from this niggly friendly is that Deano is back. Having missed last season with a broken ankle, Dean Ashton thumped the impressive, brute force winner which destroyed Roma's earlier, classy domination. It was his third in the last three pre- season games.

"He has thrown down a marker about his intentions", said manager Alan Curbishley, who confirmed that the proposed signing of Kieron Dyer is "definitely off ", blaming Newcastle's upping of the fee after terms had been agreed. "That has never happened to me before, that the clubs have agreed a fee, only for it to be pulled," he said.

Curbishley was pleased with the way his team battled back against a Roma side who, for the first hour, offered disciplined Serie A stuff in defence and Francesco Totti-inspired attacking genius.

West Ham's only injury concern was over Luis Boa Morte, who was kicked in the head in the opening minute and exited feeling dizzy before half an hour had gone. The more serious incident involved Ludovic Giuly. He took exception to the close attentions of Lee Bowyer and retaliated with a wild kick which failed to connect. Referee Howard Webb summoned the two players and captains to explain that this was a friendly and declined to punish anyone, although yellow cards were subsequently shown to Rodrigo Taddei and Daniele De Rossi as Roma continued to dish it out.

That there was no need to mix it was shown by the quality of Roma's 13th minute goal. Taddei slid a low ball across the edge of the penalty area and Giuly thumped it first time past Robert Green, who saved a certain second by sticking out his left boot to deny Taddei when the winger was through.

Ashton's appearance after half-time was wildly welcomed and he was immediately involved, seeing a piledriver thrust over by Gianluca Curci. West Ham equalised just past the hour when George McCartney rose impressively to Freddie Ljungberg's corner to strike a clean header into the roof of goal. Two minutes later came Ashton's thumping contribution, executed as he cut in past one defender and drove the ball through Curci's legs.

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